--- title: "Axillary Breast Tissue Removal in Gurgaon - Liposuction vs Excision, Scars \u0026 Recovery | Dr. Shikha Bansal" description: "Axillary (accessory) breast tissue removal surgery by Dr. Shikha Bansal - liposuction, excision or both, matched to what the armpit fullness is. Scar placement, recovery and who is a candidate." url: https://drshikhabansal.com/procedures/axillary-breast-removal/ author: "Dr. Shikha Bansal" category: "breast" --- # Axillary Breast Removal > Axillary breast tissue removal is surgery for a fullness in the armpit that is made of extra breast tissue, fat or both, and that does not shrink with weight loss. Dr. Shikha Bansal examines the area first to decide whether liposuction, direct excision or a combination suits it, which also decides where the scar sits. It is usually a day-care operation and most people return to desk work within about a week. ## Key points - Liposuction, excision or both - matched to whether the armpit fullness is fat, gland or loose skin - Incisions placed in the armpit crease; scar length depends on how much tissue and skin is removed - Usually a day-care operation under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia - Desk work for most people within about a week; strenuous upper-body exercise waits about 6 weeks - Removed gland does not grow back, though remaining tissue can enlarge with weight gain or pregnancy ## What axillary breast tissue removal treats Accessory or axillary breast tissue is breast gland that formed along the milk line and sits in the armpit, separate from the main breast. The fullness patients see is usually a mix of that gland, fat and sometimes loose skin, and the proportion differs from person to person and between the two sides. Glandular tissue feels firmer and can swell or become tender around periods, in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Fat is soft and changes with weight. The consultation exam, done with the arms down and then raised and with a pinch test, tells which is which, and an ultrasound is added when it is needed. For the signs in more detail, see [axillary breast tissue vs armpit fat](/blog/axillary-breast-tissue-vs-armpit-fat/). The operation goes by several names. Accessory breast tissue removal, axillary breast excision and axillary breast reduction all describe the same aim: taking out the extra tissue so the armpit sits flatter and the line from chest to arm is smoother. ## Liposuction, excision or both - how the technique is chosen The technique depends on what the fullness is made of, not on a fixed preference. **Liposuction alone** suits armpit fullness that is mostly soft fat with little gland. Axillary breast liposuction is done through small puncture incisions in the armpit, and the scars are small. **Excision** is needed when there is a firm glandular component, because liposuction does not reliably remove dense gland. The gland is cut out through an incision placed in an armpit crease. **Combined liposuction and excision** is the most common plan. Liposuction blends the edges into the chest and arm, and direct excision removes the gland. **Skin excision** is added when there is loose, hanging skin. It tightens the area but means a longer scar. The plan is set at examination, not chosen in advance. Patients who arrive asking about liposuction vs excision get a direct answer once the tissue has been examined. ## Where the scar sits Liposuction-only cases leave small puncture marks, a few millimetres each, in or near the armpit crease. Excision uses an incision placed along a natural armpit crease, inside the hair-bearing area. Its length depends on how much tissue is removed. When loose skin is also removed, the scar is a longer line along the crease, and this is said plainly at consultation instead of promising an invisible scar. Scars are pink and firm for the first few weeks, then fade and flatten over 6 to 12 months. Silicone gel and sun protection help during that time. A scar that tightens and limits raising the arm is uncommon, and it is reviewed early if it happens. ## Axillary breast removal surgery, from consultation to same-day discharge The consultation covers the examination, a medical history and marking of the area with the arms raised. If there is a lump that needs checking first, imaging is arranged before any surgery is planned. Smaller cases are done under local anaesthesia with sedation, and larger or combined cases under general anaesthesia. Operating time is usually about 1 to 2 hours for both sides. The armpit holds lymph nodes and nerves, so the dissection stays in the layer above them. A compression garment goes on in the operating room, and discharge is usually the same day. ## Who is a good candidate, and when surgery waits Axillary breast tissue removal suits adults whose armpit fullness bothers them in clothing or causes heaviness or tenderness. Good candidates are at a stable weight, in good general health, and non-smokers or willing to stop around the time of surgery. Surgery waits in some situations: - During pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for some months after breastfeeding ends, because the tissue is still changing. - While significant weight loss is still in progress. - When there is a new, hard or changing lump, which is evaluated first. ## Recovery after axillary breast tissue removal Recovery follows a similar pattern for most patients, though it varies with how much tissue is removed. **Week 1**: the compression garment is worn, and swelling and bruising are expected. Arm movement is limited to everyday reach. Most people return to desk work from about day 3 to 7. **Week 2 to 3**: stitches are removed or dissolve, and swelling settles. **Week 4 to 6**: light exercise can usually restart. Strenuous upper-body work and heavy lifting wait until about 6 weeks. **Month 3 to 6**: residual swelling settles and the final contour becomes clear. ## Risks and complications Swelling, bruising and temporary numbness of the armpit and inner upper-arm skin are expected. A fluid collection (seroma) is the complication most specific to the armpit, and it may need draining in clinic. Other possible complications include bleeding or a blood collection (haematoma), infection, contour irregularity or a hollow, residual tissue that may need a touch-up, asymmetry between the sides, a thickened or tight scar, and the risks of anaesthesia. These are discussed before consent. ## Why it develops, and when a lump is checked first Breast tissue develops along the milk line, which runs from the armpit towards the groin, and in some people a portion stays in the armpit. It often becomes noticeable at puberty, in pregnancy or with weight gain, when hormones or fat make it larger. Accessory breast tissue is usually a benign variant. It is breast tissue, though, so it can develop the same conditions as the breast, including, rarely, cancer. A new, hard or changing lump is examined, and imaged if needed, before any cosmetic plan. For more on whether [axillary breast tissue is dangerous](/blog/axillary-breast-tissue-vs-armpit-fat/), and how to tell it from armpit fat, see the full guide. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Who is a good candidate for axillary breast tissue removal? Good candidates are adults with armpit fullness that bothers them, who are at a stable weight and not pregnant or breastfeeding. Non-smokers, or those willing to stop around surgery, heal more reliably. Any new, hard or changing lump is checked first, before a cosmetic plan is made. ### Will axillary breast removal affect normal breast function? The main breasts are not operated on. Accessory breast tissue can contain ducts, and it can swell or even leak during breastfeeding, which is one reason surgery is timed after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Anyone planning a pregnancy soon discusses timing at consultation. ### Where is the scar after axillary breast tissue removal, and how visible is it? Liposuction leaves small puncture marks a few millimetres long in or near the armpit crease. Excision leaves a scar along a natural armpit crease, and its length depends on how much tissue is removed. When loose skin is also removed, the scar is a longer line. Scars are pink at first and usually fade and flatten over 6 to 12 months, helped by silicone gel and sun protection. ### Can axillary breast tissue return after surgical removal? Gland that has been removed does not grow back. However, significant weight gain, hormonal changes in pregnancy or certain medications can enlarge any small amount of remaining breast tissue or fat in the area. Keeping a stable weight after surgery helps the result last. ### Is axillary breast removal the same as treating hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)? No. Axillary breast removal treats extra breast tissue and fat in the armpit, while hyperhidrosis treatment targets the sweat glands. Removing breast tissue is not a treatment for sweating, and excessive sweating is treated separately. If sweating is the main concern, those options can be discussed at consultation. ### Can axillary breast tissue be removed with liposuction alone? Only when the fullness is mostly fat. Dense glandular tissue is not reliably removed by liposuction and needs excision, so most cases are a combination of the two. The examination at consultation decides which approach fits. ### When can I raise my arms fully and return to the gym after axillary breast surgery? Everyday arm movement is fine in the first week. Light exercise usually restarts from about week 4, and upper-body strength work from about week 6. The exact timing depends on how much tissue was removed and how the wounds are healing, and it is confirmed at follow-up. ## Related - [All Procedures](https://drshikhabansal.com/procedures/) - [About Dr. Shikha Bansal](https://drshikhabansal.com/female-plastic-surgeon-in-gurgaon/) - [Book a Consultation](https://drshikhabansal.com/contact/)